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September 8, 2006

Reed on Iraq: 'We have to follow through' / Photo

Journal photo / Bob Thayer
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed speaks with Hala Ghoname, 21, center, who is from Egypt and is now a junior at the Roger Williams University, and Nora Leblanc, 23, a senior born in Belize, who were both part of the panel today.

BRISTOL -- U.S. Sen. Jack Reed visited the campus of Rogers Williams University this afternoon to participate in a panel discussion on Iraq with students.

The Rhode Island Democrat gave some introductory remarks based on his experiences on the Senate Armed Services Committee and his eight visits to Iraq since the outset of the war in 2003.

He has been a frequent critic of President Bush's handling of the war and repeated some of those themes before an audience of nearly 200 students, faculty and staff.

Regardless of whether the United States should have gone to war, and how it conducted the war, Reed said, "We are there.''

"If we are going to stabilize the country we have to follow through not just with a military presence but with the kind of developmental assistance and support that is essential to provide the Iraqis the capability to function as a democracy or at least as a stable secure soverign nation,'' he said.

Reed also talked about the greater Middle East, including the tensions fueled in the region by the lack of peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The solution to America's troubles in the region, including the growing threat of Iran, rests with diplomacy, he said.

"One of the disappointing aspects of the last several years is the lack of any real engagement by the administration, particularly when it comes to issues between the state of Israel and the Palestinian authority ... It's left us not well positioned to renew the diplomacy that is so necessary now.''

-- Journal staff writer Richard Salit

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:42 PM | Comment

Trooper cleared in questionable van stop

The state police this afternoon cleared a trooper of any wrongdoing related to a July traffic stop that resulted in detention of 14 suspected illegal immigrants.

The ACLU asked for an investigation after the driver of a van and several passengers alleged last month that Trooper Thomas Chabot overstepped his authority by taking immigration enforcement into his own hands.

But at a news conference today inside state police headquarters, Supt. Steven M. Pare said that Chabot did nothing wrong.

The head of the ACLU's Rhode Island affiliate was concerned with today's announcement and said the issue bears further action, including potential litigation, though he couldn't say for sure without consulting the people affected.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Karen Lee Ziner

The traffic stop occurred at 6:30 a.m. near Exit 4 south, where Chabot was posted at a speed checkpoint. Chabot's report states that he pulled the van's driver over for failing to signal a lane change.

After the driver provided a license and ID, Chabot asked the passengers for identification, his report states. When only a few could do so, he then "asked if any of them had immigration credentials proving their U.S. citizenship."

None did. Chabot then escorted the group to the Bureau of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement office in Providence.

The 14 people detained are facing deportation.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Karen Lee Ziner

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:32 PM | Comment

Murder suspects refuse to waive extradition

Two men arrested for the execution-style murder of a Pawtucket woman are refusing to be moved from Florida to Rhode Island, according to a statement released today by the Pawtucket police.

Barry Offley, 19, of Woonsocket, and Alonzo P. Shelton, 28, of Centrall Falls, were arrested yesterday in Ocala, Fla., about 45 minutes south of Gainesville. They had been on the run since late July, after being named suspects in the murder of 24-year-old Jessica C. Imran, who was shot in the head inside her Pawtucket apartment, and the attempted murder of her friend, 28-year-old Julie Lange, of Central Falls.

Rhode Island authorities were notified today that both men have refused to sign waivers of extradition, the Pawtucket police said. But the Rhode Island attorney general's office is preparing a governor's warrant to force the suspects to return to Rhode Island to face the charges.

Read the full story about yesterday's arrests in today's Journal.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:24 PM | Comment

FLASH: Appeals court upholds Bucci, Potter convictions

A federal appeals court has upheld the convictions last year of two former Lincoln Park executives for conspiring to bribe former House Speaker John B. Harwood.

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston today rejected arguments that there was insufficient evidence to convict Nigel Potter, former CEO of Lincoln Park's British parent company, Wembley plc, and Daniel Bucci, the park's former general manager.

"The trial was well conducted and the outcome is not a surprise," the three-judge panel concluded in its decision.

The decision also upholds a conviction against LPRI, the limited liability company remaining from Lincoln Park's former owners.

A federal jury last year convicted the three defendants of conspiracy and wire-fraud charges for scheming to bribe Harwood. Prosecutors said the proposed bribes, which were never paid, were aimed at securing state approval for at least 1,000 more video-slot machines and blocking a casino proposed for West Warwick.

Potter was sentenced to three years in prison. Bucci was sentenced to three years and five months in prison. The corporate entity was fined $1.5 million.

Defense lawyers last month argued to that appeals court that while former Lincoln Park executives Daniel Bucci and Nigel Potter had discussions, they never crossed the line by starting to execute a plan to bribe Harwood

In appealing, the defendants sought acquittal or a new trial.

Posted by Jack Perry at 3:01 PM | Comment

Carcieri releases renewable energy plan

COVENTRY -- Governor Carcieri announced a new plan today that he says will expand Rhode Island's supplies of renewable energy.

As part of the plan, the state will help finance a turbine and power plant at the Harris Mill dam on the Pawtuxet River in Coventry. Carcieri says the supply of hydro-power should help Rhode Island exceed its renewable energy standard, currently set at 15 percent.

The renewable energy standard is the percentage of energy used in the state that's derived from sources such as wind and water.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:00 PM | Comment

Funeral set for Seekonk Marine killed in Iraq

The family of Marine Lance Cpl. Eric Valdepeñas of Seekonk, Mass., who was killed on patrol in Iraq on Monday when a roadside bomb exploded, has set his funeral arrangements.

The wake will be Wednesday at the Perry-McStay Funeral Home in East Providence from 3 to 7 p.m., and the funeral will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul in Providence.

Burial for Valdepeñas, who was a 2003 graduate of Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick, will be private, according to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, which has helped the Valdepeñas family communicate with the media since the death of their son and brother. He was the youngest of eight children.

The funeral home is located at 2555 Pawtucket Ave. in East Providence. The Cathedral is located at One Cathedral Square in Providence.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:54 PM | Comment

Sen. Reed to discuss Iraq at Roger Williams today

BRISTOL -- Having recently returned from his 8th trip to Iraq, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed will discuss the "current geopolitical outlook" there this afternoon at Roger Williams University, according to an announcement released by the school.

"Sen. Reed will share his thoughts on the possibility of peace in the region and take questions from students, including some from the Middle East," according to the announcement.

Reed will appear at the forum, titled "Prospects for Peace in the Middle East," at 2:30 p.m. at the University Law School.

More to come on Projo.com...

Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:08 PM | Comment

R.I. recovers $59K from drug maker

The state of Rhode Island recently recovered nearly $59,000 in a settlement with pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline Inc. that was part of a $161-million-dollar multi-state settlement.

Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch announced today that the settlement resolves allegations that the company improperly inflated the “average wholesale price” of its prescription drugs that were paid by government health plans.

Essentially, Medicaid and Medicare were overpaying for the prescription drugs from the pharmaceutical company, Lynch spokesman Michael J. Healey said.

Rhode Island’s settlement of $58,714.18 has been returned to the state’s Department of Human Services.

The drugs involved were Kytril and Zofran, injectible anti-nauseau drugs used in connection with chemotherapy treatments, according to Lynch’s office.

Today, Lynch said in a statement that this isn’t the first action the state has taken against this “pharmaceutical giant.”

Earlier this year, GlaxoSmithKline agreed to pay $14 million to 46 states, including $56,000 to Rhode Island, as part of a multi-state settlement related to accusations that the drug maker blocked generic versions of a popular antidepressant from being produced.

“And we will persist,” Lynch said, “as long as this corporation, or any other, violates our laws and tries to build its own profits at the expense of the Medicaid program, relied on by millions of poor people nationwide and thousands right here in Rhode Island.”

Posted by Kate Bramson at 1:05 PM | Comment

Update: Opponents make another bid to stop LNG project

FALL RIVER -- Rhode Island and Massachusetts officials will gather at a proposed LNG site here today to announce their latest legal effort to stop the project.

A petition to be filed with the First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals asks the U.S. Department of Transportation to adopt standards that would dictate where liquefied natural gas terminals can be located.

Fall River Mayor Ed Lambert, Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly and a representative from the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office were expected to be on hand at the Weaver's Cove site. An earlier report indicated that Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch would attend. However, his spokesman, Michael J. Healey, told projo.com this morning that Lynch never planned to attend because he must be at the new Kent County Courthouse today for the official ceremony marking the court's opening.

Fall River officials recently announced that they would appeal a ruling that allows the state permitting process to move forward.

Lambert says Hess provided incorrect information about the potential impacts of the project.

-- The Associated Press and projo.com reports

Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:27 AM | Comment

High school football kicks off tonight

Friday nights in fall belong to high school football, and tonight is the start of the season. There are 10 games across the state tonight, highlighted by the nonleague showdown between La Salle and Shea at Reed Field in Pawtucket. Check The Providence Journal for a full report on that game and projo.com for a gallery of game photos.

Projo.com will be posting final scores from tonight's gridiron action as soon as we get them. We'll also have results from today's soccer, tennis and volleyball matches. To see how your team did, choose your high school home page from the list at www.projo.com/highschool.

Click below for tonight's full football schedule.

Tonight's games

Rogers at Middletown, 6:30 at Gaudet Middle School
South Kingstown at Portsmouth, 7
North Providence at Lincoln, 7 at North Providence High School
Barrington at Tolman, 7 at Pariseau Field
East Providence at Cranston East, 7 at Cranston Stadium
La Salle at Shea, 7 at Reed Field
North Kingstown at Westerly, 7
Toll Gate at Warwick Vets, 7
Woonsocket at Johnston, 7
North Smithfield at Smithfield, 7

Posted by Mike McDermott at 10:45 AM | Comment

Seminar to address citizenship for immigrants

PROVIDENCE – The International Institute of Rhode Island is holding an immigration and citizenship seminar today at noon.

Immigration attorney Carl Krueger plans to address issues for senior citizens and their families, such as how someone would become a citizen, what public benefits are available to seniors who are citizens and whether new citizens would qualify for government programs such as Social Security.

The free, two-hour seminar will be held at the St. Martin de Porres Center, 160 Cranston St., Providence. It’s open to the public.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:18 AM | Comment

Newport mansion to be sold

Miramar, one of the great, oceanfront manions in Newport, will be auctioned off on Nov. 3.

The 27-bedroom ``summer cottage'' built in 1913 is owned by real estate developer Andrew Panteleakis, who once lived on the property. After unsuccessfully trying to sell the house 2 years ago for $25 million, he decided to hold a sealed bid auction.

Sheldon Good & Co. will run the auction, according to the real estate company's Web site.

Miramar was built for the family of railroad mogul George D. Widener, who commissioned architect Horace Trumbauer to design the French-style, 30,000-square-foot mansion.

Posted by at 8:16 AM | Comment

Tropical Storm could kick up surf here by Sunday

Tropical Storm Florence is moving west-northwest, and conditions appear favorable for the storm to intensify during the next day or two and affect our region early next week.

The storm was about 830 miles southeast of Bermuda at 5 a.m. today and is expected to pass well east of Nantucket next week, according to the National Weather Service.

Nevertheless, the storm could send high swells late Sunday and into next week across coastal waters, including Rhode Island Sound, Narragansett Bay, Block Island Sound, Boston Harbor and Cape Cod Bay.

Northeast winds could increase to gale force for a time early next week, when high pressure building out of eastern Canada on Sunday combines with the large circulation ahead of Florence, according to the weather service.

Check the weather service’s marine weather statement out of Taunton, Mass., and track Tropical Storm Florence.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:38 AM | Comment

Another beautiful day on the way

Today's weather should be a lot like yesterday's but warmer, according to the National Weather Service's forecast.

The weather service predicts mostly sunny skies with a high near 82 degrees and calm winds.

Saturday and Sunday bring a chance of showers.

For more weather and regular updates, see projo.com/weather.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:00 AM | Comment